CHAPTER 52…………………
“Hello. My name is Rain from N Newspaper. I would like to have a conversation with Lady Jayna Blake regarding the hottest topic at the moment. I look forward to a positive reply.”
“Haa…”
Jayna crumpled the letter and threw it away.
“Kyuu!”
Cotton Candy leapt up, caught the ball of paper in its mouth, and tossed it straight into the trash can.
“Good job, Cotton Candy.”
At Jayna’s praise, Cotton Candy gave a happy cry and rubbed its head against her. Stroking the fluffy creature’s fur, Jayna let out another deep sigh. She couldn’t help it—one look at the mountain of letters piled up before her was enough.
“Ellie, throw all of these out.”
“What? But some of them haven’t been read yet.”
“No need to bother. They’re all interview requests anyway.”
“Understood! I’ll burn them all then.”
Ellie carried the stack of letters out of the room. Jayna collapsed onto the bed with a mutter.
“Filthy reporters.”
The bogus article, which she thought would be buried quickly, had instead become the empire’s biggest scandal overnight. The crown prince, Perus—the empire’s idol—and Duke Theoris of the North, shrouded in mystery. The story of the two brothers’ supposed romance was juicy enough to set the empire ablaze.
Absurd articles speculating about the three of them poured out, only fueling public curiosity.
Journalists tried everything to capture a photo that could be a scoop. Some even attempted to spy on Jayna’s room from a distance using magical devices.
So this is how a celebrity plagued by stalker-fans must feel.
To ease Jayna’s stress from the invasion of privacy, Theoris prepared a special gift.
“Jayna, I made this room for you.”
He had remodeled hidden secret passages within the ducal estate. The magically crafted windows appeared from outside as nothing but ordinary walls.
“My heart wishes to simply deal with those who harass you, but since you forbade it…”
Theoris’s eyes shone like a puppy seeking praise. Unable to hide his anticipation, he looked at her, and Jayna chuckled.
“Thank you, Theo. I really like it.”
From then on, Jayna began living in the secret room.
It had already been a week since she could last walk Cotton Candy, Poppy, and the black dragon, thanks to the tireless reporters outside.
“I’m sorry, little ones. It must be stifling, stuck indoors like this.”
“Kyuu?”
Cotton Candy tilted its head with innocent eyes, while Poppy ignored her words entirely and frolicked happily around the room.
The day the first article was published, Jayna’s top priority was training Poppy to shrink like Cotton Candy and the black dragon. Unlike them, who could do it naturally without training, Poppy struggled. Only after two exhausting days with Ashins’s help did they succeed. Thanks to that, she didn’t have to lock Poppy away in the basement but could keep it in the room with her.
Jayna vented her frustration by punching her pillow.
It wasn’t that she hated staying home. But being forced indoors by others was entirely different from choosing to stay inside of her own will.
Why do I have to hide like this?
Strictly speaking, Jayna had nothing to feel guilty about. The gossip linking her with Perus was pure fabrication.
Besides, I’m already married. I’m in no position to “end up” with anyone.
Jayna suddenly sat up. Cotton Candy, Poppy, and the black dragon stared at her curiously.
“This won’t do. Kids, Mommy’s going to go have it out with that villain.”
“That is unacceptable. If you truly must go, then I will accompany you—”
“In that case, I won’t go.”
“…What?”
At her prompt answer, Theoris asked again in surprise.
“Why so shocked?”
“…I didn’t think you would agree to my words so easily.”
“Well, sometimes I do. Anyway, I’ll be going now.”
Jayna turned to return to her room, but Theoris stopped her.
“Jayna, forgive me for asking, but… you’re not secretly planning to sneak out, are you?”
Jayna answered without hesitation.
“Of course not. Theo, do you really mistrust me that much?”
“No. Forgive me for doubting you.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Now, I’ll truly go. Good night, Theo.”
“Yes. Sleep well, Jayna.”
Once outside his room, Jayna exhaled in relief.
Wow, I thought he could read minds.
The truth was, she had sought him out to say she wanted to speak with Perus alone. As expected, Theoris had refused without hesitation.
Given the strange rumors already circulating, it was natural he wouldn’t approve of her meeting Perus privately.
If Perus meets Theo, who knows how much more he’ll get under his skin.
Theoris himself, though he didn’t show it, was under considerable stress from the endless speculative articles. Considering their past, bringing Perus and Theoris together now was dangerous.
But I can’t keep avoiding this forever.
Jayna thought of two possible ways to quell the rumors.
- Accept an interview and state publicly that she was Theoris’s wife and had no relationship with Perus.
- Meet Perus directly.
The first was the simplest. But would people truly believe her?
Of course not.
If mere words could resolve it, the baseless articles wouldn’t have snowballed into such a mess.
So she chose the second: to meet Perus. He had the charisma and influence to sway public opinion instantly. If he truly was behind all this, nothing would end without persuading him.
I had hoped to get Theo’s permission, but… no choice.
Back in her room, Jayna decided to put her escape plan into action.
“How did it go?”
Ashins, playing with Cotton Candy, asked casually.
“Obviously failed.”
“I thought so.”
“Which means tonight, we go with Plan A. You’ll help, right, Lord Ashins?”
“I never said I would join you.”
“But I can’t do this without you! Please, just this once.”
Jayna gazed at him with pleading eyes. With a sigh, Ashins finally nodded.
“You’re the only one who would ask me for something this absurd. Haa…”
“So you’ll help? Lord Ashins, you’re the best!”
Jayna clapped and gave a thumbs-up. Ashins grumbled but looked secretly pleased.
Night deepened as they prepared.
Do these people never sleep?
She sighed, seeing the faint lights outside. The reporters had camped in the forest for a week, desperate for a single photo of her.
Everything was ready.
Feeling unwell. I’ll rest. Please do not disturb.
She stuck the prewritten note on her door, having already told Ellie she felt a little feverish.
Good. Now, all that’s left is…
“All set.”
Ashins, crouched on the floor drawing a magic circle, replied.
“Same here.”
“Great. Cotton Candy, would you step onto that?”
Cotton Candy tilted its head, then trotted onto the circle. The white lines etched into the floor slowly glowed violet. Lilac-colored smoke wrapped around Cotton Candy, flashing bright.
“Kyuu?”
Cotton Candy now stood there in Jayna’s form, waving its arms.
“Wow! It’s exactly like me! Lord Ashins, you’re amazing!”
Ashins only shrugged at her praise.
Jayna approached the bewildered Cotton Candy, who flexed its hands awkwardly before breaking into a smile.
Wow, I really am pretty, huh.
Even Jayna herself was enchanted by the radiant smile in her borrowed likeness. She quickly shook it off.
“Cotton Candy, from now on, you’ll pretend to be me.”
“Kyuua?”
“Mommy’s going to deal with a bad guy. You stay in bed, in that form. Understood?”
“Kyuu!”
“No. Don’t talk. Just lie quietly.”
Cotton Candy blinked its rosy eyes and nodded, then crawled into bed. Jayna tucked it in and stroked its hair.
“Take care while I’m gone.”
She didn’t expect this ruse to fool Theoris completely, but it would buy her time.
With everything ready, Jayna set off with Ashins and the black dragon toward her original room.
She lit the lamp at once to signal to the outsiders that she was inside. She even opened the window and glanced out, before quickly turning off the light.
“You’re not much of an actress,” Ashins remarked dryly.
“It doesn’t matter. This is enough. More importantly, this robe—are you sure it won’t tear?”
Nervously, Jayna slipped the palm-sized robe onto the black dragon.
“Do you doubt the word of the empire’s greatest mage?”
“No, no, it’s just…”
Ashins donned an identical robe. Instantly, his form vanished.
